Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Precautions for Cleanliness and Care




Precautions for Cleanliness and Care

- An automobile engine is a combination of many machined, honed, polished and lapped surfaces with tolerances that are measured in the thousandth of an millimeter (ten thousandth of an inch).
Accordingly, when any internal engine parts are serviced, care and cleanliness are important.
It should be understood that proper cleaning and protection of machined surfaces and friction areas is part of the repair procedure. This is considered standard shop practice even if not specifically stated.

- A liberal coating of engine oil should be applied to friction areas during assembly in order to protect and lubricate surfaces on initial operation.
- Whenever valve train components, pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, connecting rod bearings, or crankshaft main bearings are removed for service, they should be kept organized.
At the time of installation, they should be installed in the same locations with the same combinations as those before removal.
- Battery cable should be disconnected before performing any major work on the engine.
Failure to disconnect cable may result in damage to wire harness or other electrical parts.